Thuja Green Giant for Sale | Know Before You Buy

The Thuja Green Giant has become an insanely popular tree in recent years. Sellers boast claims of growth rates of 3 to 5 feet per year and pest, deer, and disease resistance. You see endless statements of “low maintenance” and even “no maintenance” care. How do you create a privacy screen? Is this privacy tree really all it’s cracked up to be? Let’s separate the myths from the facts about the Thuja Green Giant before you buy.

When you buy, be sure to purchase from a nursery that does not leave your Thuja Green Giants with bare roots. Planting Tree grows trees with care and receives 5-star reviews for a variety of evergreen trees. You should be picky about who you buy from to make sure you receive a quality product.

TRUE. Shockingly, this claim is true. I have checked this assertion on several educational sites. A couple say up to 3 feet; most say 3 to 4 feet. But I have seen 5 feet of growth in a single growing season with my very own eyes in Thuja Green Giants growing here in the south. So, yes, ideal conditions can produce 5 feet of growth in a single year. My best guess is that the growth rates may be a little slower in the north versus the south, but 3 feet per year is definitely attainable even with minimal care!

Tips from the Pros

Plant your Green Giant Arborvitae trees in well-draining soil and full sun, water them when they are dry, fertilize once a year with a balanced, slow release fertilizer, and you WILL see extremely rapid growth rates. Keep in mind that the first year the tree is establishing its roots so you may not see much growth above ground.

TRUE. The Green Giant rarely encounters problems with disease. Common canker diseases do not seem to affect this evergreen tree like they do with many similar trees.

Tips from the Pros

Improper planting is the number one reason for fungal diseases in most plants. Be sure to avoid planting your trees too deep and too close together for the best disease-free results.

TRUE. Insect resistant? Yes. Compared to the Leyland Cypress, the Thuja Green Giant has excellent pest resistance. Insect proof? Definitely not. The biggest pest problems this privacy tree experiences are scale and bagworms. Because of it’s fast growth rate, scale isn’t a real threat to this Arborvitae.

Tips from the Pros

Watch out for bagworms. If you see them, pick them off. Keep an eye out for the telltale bags these pests make out of needles from the affected tree. They almost look like a cone dangling from a branch so they can be easy to overlook.

TRUE. Some Arborvitae, like the American, do not stand up to deer at all. This is why many people question the authenticity of this claim. The Thuja Green Giant is a totally different type of Arborvitae. It is a hybrid bred to have superior qualities. While these trees may look similar, the Green Giant is a much better choice if you live in an area with a heavy deer population. Always keep in mind that deer resistant does not mean deer proof or deer repellent. Green Giants are considered deer resistant because deer do not often choose to graze on them. If there aren’t other sources of food deer will snack on them.

Tips from the Pros

For those of you in areas with heavy deer populations, deer repellent spray or fencing is a good option especially for young trees.

TRUE, well mostly. Once Thuja Green Giants are established they require minimal, if any care. But for the first few months and the first summer, water is key for the health, growth, and establishment of this privacy tree.

Tips from the Pros

Water them deeply with a hose at the base once or twice weekly for the first few months and throughout the first summer. For the first couple weeks after planting water every other day.

This Thuja is a hybrid of the Japanese Thuja and the US native Western Redcedar. This tree takes the best qualities of both trees. This specialized selection and breeding is why these characteristics stand true for the Thuja Green Giant. As it becomes more and more popular, we hope this privacy tree is able to stand the test of time with these important traits.